Author Archives: heather

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Studio Artour Friday Preview

Posted on October 15, 2012

If you want to see the original work of the artists on the Studio Artour but are short on time… Six studios will be open Friday October 19th from 4-8pm and will be featuring the work of 16 artists. They are… #4 Holmquist Pottery, Northfield, featuring the work of potters Chris and Sue Holmquist, painter Marsha Kitchel, and glass artist Lucky Rimpila. #5 Jody Hanscom Studio, Faribault, featuring the murals of Jody Hanscom. #7 Sunset Studios, Northfield, featuring the work of potters Tom Willis and DeAnn Engval, jewelry and textiles by Judy Saye-Willis, photography and books by Patsy Dew, weavings … Continue reading →

Sue Hammes-Knopf: As Joyful as her Jewelry

Posted on October 14, 2012

By Elizabeth Child Sue Hammes-Knopf’s warm, welcoming smile belies what fellow artists say about her. She’s the den mother of the McClaughry Building in Northfield. With artist’s studios nearing double digits, the McClaughry Building at 101 East 5th Street is Northfield’s version of Minneapolis’ Northrup King building. The scale may be smaller, but the quality of the artists is at least as high. Every artist in the building is opening up his or her studio for the Studio ArTour this year—a feat no less than getting every last voter on your block to vote. Last week, Hammes-Knopf invited me to … Continue reading →

Studio ArTour Artist Profile: Fred Somers

Posted on October 11, 2012

The eighth annual Studio ArTour is coming up in Cannon Falls, Northfield and Faribault in just 10 days. I want to share about some of the fabulous artists you can meet October 20 and 21 (Saturday and Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as the 10-day countdown begins. Pastel Painter Fred Somers Fred Somers is a force in the world of pastel painting—not just here in flatland—but nationwide. He was the first place winner in the Landscape Division of the American Artists’ Magazine Best Art of 2011, published in their January 2011 issue. Just last month he received the … Continue reading →

Support Local Artists This Weekend

Posted on May 7, 2012

This weekend provides three opportunities to support three Studio ArTour artists. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 11-13, Jennifer Wolcott (Studio #2) will be selling her new garden sculptures and adornments at the Friends School Plant Sale held in the Grandstand Building on the MN State Fair Grounds in St. Paul.  Each year on Mother’s Day weekend in May, Friends School puts on the biggest plant sale in Minnesota where over 2,300 varieties of plants are offered for sale. The hours are: Friday, May 11, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 12, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday, May … Continue reading →

Upcycling at the ACC

Posted on April 20, 2012

The American Craft Council project: Upcycle Title: “Who do you love?” Medium: Sheet metal, oddments and slate Artist: Jennifer Wolcott Jennifer Wolcott was invited to participate in a show within the big American Craft Council show that runs this weekend at the Rivercentre in St Paul. The objective was to make a piece of art/craft out of something else. Jennifer chose to build a small cabinet skinned in pieces of the truck hood topped with slate blackboard. Wolcott describes the piece as “A play between the lush curves of auto body panels and something proletariat like a beer cooler.” The … Continue reading →

Animal Portraits at Two Shows

Posted on March 15, 2012

“I’ve always been painting and drawing as long as I can remember,” Julie Fakler states. After spending a summer on a hobby farm, Julie fostered an interest in the animals’ distinctive physical characteristics and personalities. “The anti-social cat, the over affectionate dog, the protective donkey, they all give me inspiration to paint.” Most of Julie’s latest paintings are of her cats, who were all strays before she adopted them. I paint domestic animals and I was trying to think of a way to help out local domestic animals. That’s when I came up with the idea to paint portraits of … Continue reading →

East Fourth Street Jewelry at Fashion Week

Susan Crow of East Fourth Street Jewelry has been invited to exhibit her jewelry at The GreenShows presentation during the 2012 New York Fashion Week.  Harvey Russack, Owner & CEO of The GreenShows says ” Our mission has always been to present trend-setting, ethical and sustainable luxury design to the elite fashion community.” Victoria Simes, renowned jewelry designer and stylist, will curate this installation of contemporary ethical fashion accessories from a select number of jewelry designers.  Susan says “This is a huge opportunity for me to meet and show with other designers that believe in the strength of luxury ethical … Continue reading →

Studio ArTour 2012

Want to be a part of Studio ArTour 2012?  Applications are now available, and are due March 1, 2012.  This year will be better than ever!

It’s Here!

Posted on October 15, 2011

Today begins the 7th annual Studio ArTour and Sale!  From 10-6 on Saturday and Sunday, we invite you to stroll through our studios and see what we have created. Enjoy demonstrations, learn about different art processes and maybe, take home some new art.  Have fun this weekend!

Work In Progress

Posted on October 3, 2011

              Lori Schmidt (studio #17) has been hard at work creating glass beads and beaded beads that she will display as finished jewelry on the Tour.  She makes her own glass beads by melting glass rods in a torch, then manipulates the molten glass over a metal rod which creates the hole in the bead.  During the Tour, she will be demonstrating the fascinating art of lampworking, or glass bead making. Despite the challenge of making matching sets of handmade beads, Lori carefully selected pairs of beads that she made into stunning earrings that … Continue reading →

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